Miller, who lives in Saginaw, Michigan, said returning to the dental school to be treated by her grandson brought back lots of memories, including how equipment and procedures have changed significantly. She remembers developing radiographs in a photographic dark room; today imaging is digital on a computer. Students in her time needed to ensure that the motor and belt on the beltdriven polisher were in working order; today high speed handpieces are much simpler to operate. And then there was the lack of personal protective equipment in her day, illustrated by a photo taken in 1958-59 of her treating a patient while wearing neither a mask nor gloves.
Justin Curis during a dental hygiene appointment with his grandmother Joyce Ann Miller.
Miller practiced in the Saginaw area for 54 years, retiring in 2013. More than half of those years were with Dr. Arthur Kettelhohn, about 11 years were with Dr. Robert Puszykowski (DDS 1977) and the rest were as a substitute in various other practices in the area. “I chose dental hygiene to make a positive impact on my patients and allow them to live a healthier life,” she says.
DENTAL HYGIENE
Hygiene Student Follows Grandmother’s Career Path When Joyce Ann Miller sat down in a dental chair at the School of Dentistry one day last semester, the hygiene student who greeted her was easy to recognize, even behind his surgical mask. A 1959 graduate of the school’s Dental Hygiene Program, Miller said she was thrilled that her grandson, Justin Curis, was the attending hygienist. His decision to follow in her career path, and do so at the same school, didn’t surprise her because 20 DENTAL HYGIENE M Dentistry | Fall 2021
Justin has similar goals. “I am receiving the training and education that will prepare me to be an amazing hygienist,” he said. “And not only be great at my job, but it will also allow me to carry the Wolverine dental hygiene blood in my family into the future.”
she had heard him talking about it since he was in middle school. The second-year DH student will graduate next spring, 63 years after his grandmother received her BSDH. “My grandmother really inspired me to go into this career,” Justin said. “I remember going to the dental office and being excited to see her. She was kind, caring, gentle and passionate about treating her patients. I have met several patients of hers who mentioned that she changed their lives. I want to provide my patients with that same excellent care where they are no longer scared to come to the dentist but excited to see me and seek dental care.”
Joyce Ann Miller with a patient at the dental school during her training in 1958-59.
